Waiakea boys rally to turn back Kalaheo

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Napua Cabatu had 15 kills and five blocks to help Waiakea High rally past Kalaheo, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, in opening-round play of the Nissan Boys State Volleyball Championships last night at McKinley High's Student Council Gym.

Maui's Ikon-Kai Wood, left, hits past the block of Campbell's John Taitin. Maui won, 25-17, 25-18. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Napua's been an awesome guy all year round," Warriors coach Emil Osorio said. "As long as we can get the pass near the net, Treston Yasso, our setter, can find him."

Added Cabatu: "It was going back-and-forth, back-and-forth. I felt I had to step it up for my team."

Others also elevated their game. Cory Enriques had four blocks, while Kacy Goldstein and James Creekmur added two each for the Warriors.

The first game was tied 13 times, the last time at 23, before one of three blocks by Ryan Belles and one of 10 kills by Sam Wilhoite won it for the Mustangs.

In another tight game, the Mustangs had a 22-21 lead before the Warriors reeled off four unanswered points, two on violations, with Cabatu's kill tying the match at 1.

The third game was just as even with Kalaheo getting within 24-23 on a Wilhoite kill, but only to fall on the ensuing serve when Cabatu got his 15th kill.

"We had to change the way we played," Osorio said. "We had to go into more of a defensive mode instead of offensive and relied more on shot selection and ball control. It kind of paid off. We seemed to out-play them on defense. But (the Mustangs) served really tough. We pulled it off by being able to make plays down the stretch."

Kalaheo was hurt in the second game when 6-foot senior hitter William Elliot hurt his ankle after digging a ball.

"Not that I can attribute our loss to that, but I'm sure it helped (the Warriors)," Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni said. "But we gave whatever we had on the court and I was happy for that."

• MILILANI DEF. KAUA'I: Mililani rallied from a 16-8 first-game deficit to down Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Kaua'i, 26-24, 25-22.

Maui's Jeff Skrotzki soars above the Campbell defense to score a kill in an opening round match of the state tournament at McKinley High. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kaua'i's Casey Kaohelaulii and Joshua Cabral had seven and six kills, respectively.

Mililani trailed the entire first game until it tied it at 23, only to see Kaua'i take a one-point lead. The Trojans responded with three unanswered to win the game.

Mililani nearly squandered a 21-14 lead with Waimea pulling to 24-22 before Neumann secured the match with a kill.

• KAMEHAMEHA-O'AHU DEF. KA'U: Adam Tuifagu had nine kills and two blocks to lead Kamehameha over Ka'u, 25-17, 25-14, in a match that lasted about 40 minutes.

Elias Navarro led the Trojans with 10 kills.

Kamehameha will meet No. 3 seed Kahuku in the 8 p.m. quarterfinal.

• MAUI DEF. CAMPBELL: Ikon-Kai Wood had nine kills and three aces to lead Maui over Campbell, 25-17, 25-18.

John Taitin had eight kills for Campbell.

Maui will play top-seeded Iolani at 6:30 tonight in a quarterfinal.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.